Improvement in gar-couplings



G. E. WEBER Gar-Coupling.

No. 203,679.- Patentd May 14,1878.

WITNESSES INVENTOR:

,6 BY MA/W ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OEEroE.

GEORGE wEBEE, OEOPELIKA, ALABAMA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,679, dated May 14, 1878; application filed March 19, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WEBER, of Opelika, in the county of Lee and State of Alabama, have invented a new and Improved Oar Coupling, of which the following is a specification In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved oar-coupling; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same; Fig. 3, a side view of the drawhead, showing connection with permanent coupling-link, the face-plate being removed; and Fig. 4, detail perspective views of the linkretaining wedgepieces and of a part of the coupling-link.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

This invention relates to an improved selfcoupler for cars that is arranged to couple with cars of different heights on any curve without going in between the cars, and which is also so arranged as to connect cars having the common pin and link coupling.

The invention consists of a solid draw-head of circular or oval shape, that is arranged at the center with a cavity and pin-holes for the common pin and link. At one side of the draw-head is secured a vertically-swinging and cushioned coupling-link, the opposite side bein g provided with a hook-sh aped recess, curved guide-horns, and with looking and releasing hooks, that are uncoupled by cord or chain connections with an uncoupling-shaft. The permanent coupling-link is cushioned in the socket of the draw-head by a projection on its vertical part and elastic cushions, and retained by wedge-pieces above and below the projection on the link and by an exterior closingplate.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a solid metallic draw-head, that is made of' wrought-iron plates, riveted together or cast in one piece with a supporting-plate, by which it is attached to the end of the platform or bedframe of the car, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The draw-head A is made of round or oval shape, and at the central front part'of the same arranged with a cavity, a, with top and bottom pin-holes, for the purpose of coupling with cars having draw-heads withthe common pin and link.

Each draw-head is provided with a permanent coupling-link, B, that is secured vertically into a socket-recess at one side of the same, While the link B of the connecting draw-head couples with a hook-shaped recess, b, at the opposite side of the draw-head. The permanent link B is retained in the socket of the draw-head A by means of rubber cushions d, of square, triangular, or other shape, that bear on each side of a projection, cl, on the vertical part of the link, and by means of wedge-pieces e, that are shown in Fig. 4, and which bear on the link above and below the projection d, and retain it thereby, in connection with a collar, 0, above the draw-head, rigidly inposition. The socket-recess is closed, so as to prevent any detaching of the link or of the retaining-wedges, by an exterior side plate, f. The permanent link is intended to couple with the hook-shapedrecess b of the connecting draw-head, and is guided along curved side horns A into the hook-shaped recess b. The guide-horns A are cast in one piece with the draw-head A, and are sepa rated by an intermediate space or recess, in which are arranged two swinging and fulcrumed hooks, O O, of which one extends back into an extension, b, of the hook-shaped recess 1), while the other extends across the same and is acted upon bya spring so as to be returned to this position. i The link, when passing along the draw-head and horns,

strikes first against the locking spring-hook G,

forces the same back, and passes then into the hook-shaped recess, being prevented by the spring-hook from escaping therefrom.

For uncoupling the link, the second releas ing-hook, G, is brought into action simultaneously with the springacted hook O by means of connecting cords or chains attached to the lateral shaft D, turning in bearings of the car-frame, and having a hand-wheel at the end, so that by turning the shaft the inner hook engages the coupling-link, while the spring-acted hook is simultaneously drawn back to permit thereby the escape of the coupling-link along the guide-horns. Any other uncoupling mechanism may be employed by which the locking and releasing hooks may be operated simultaneously for the purpose of releasing the link from the draw-head.

The vertical coupling =links adjust them selves readily to cars of different heights, forming a reliable and automatical coupling with the draw-heads, and, by the solid construction of the draw-heads and double connection of the links, a reliable, strong, and

durable connection of the cars.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent- 1. The combination, with a solid draw-head,"

having a socket-recess with interior cushions,

of a permanent coupling-link, having central projection, of retaining wedge-pieces, and of a tantiallyas and for" 

